Gastroenterology
Dr. Pooja Khanna
License: DHA
23 years of experience
Dr. Pooja Khanna is a UK board-certified Consultant in Hepatology and Gastroenterology with over 23 years of medical experience, including more than 10 years as a specialist. She previously served as Clinical Lead for Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endoscopy at Luton and Dunstable Hospital in the United Kingdom. Dr. Khanna trained and practiced at some of London’s leading institutions, including King’s College Hospital, St Thomas’, Royal Free, Royal London, and Homerton hospitals, completing her hepatology specialist training at King’s College Hospital and Royal London Hospital.
She obtained her medical degree from King’s College London and has an extensive academic background, with internationally published research in viral immunology, particularly Hepatitis B. Her clinical expertise spans the management of complex liver and gastrointestinal conditions, including MASLD/NAFLD, cirrhosis and its complications, viral hepatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, reflux, IBS, coeliac and peptic ulcer disease. Dr. Khanna is also highly skilled in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, non-invasive liver fibrosis assessment, liver lesion evaluation, and the management of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
Dr. Hakam Al-Balas
License: DHA
13 years of experience
Dr. Hakam Al-Balas is a board-certified Consultant Gastroenterologist with over 13 years of clinical experience, including more than 8 years of specialized gastroenterology training in Germany. Prior to relocating to the UAE, he served as Head of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Helios Frankenwaldklinik in Bavaria. He completed his residency and fellowship in internal medicine and gastroenterology at St. Josefs Hospital Dortmund, affiliated with the University of Münster. He later worked as a Consultant at Wilhelm-Anton Hospital in Goch, a teaching hospital of the University of Düsseldorf, where he advanced his expertise in complex endoscopic procedures. Dr. Al-Balas is an expert interventional endoscopist with extensive experience in diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower GI endoscopy, capsule endoscopy, ERCP, and endoscopic ultrasound. His advanced procedural skills include EMR, ESD, full-thickness resection, PEG placement, cholangioscopy, and management of gastrointestinal bleeding. He has strong expertise in bariatric endoscopy, including intragastric balloon therapy, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), and transoral outlet reduction (TORe).
His clinical focus includes inflammatory bowel disease, functional gastrointestinal disorders, GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, colorectal cancer screening, and nutritional optimization. He also provides comprehensive hepatology care, managing fatty liver disease, fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatobiliary disorders, and pancreatic diseases. Dr. Al-Balas is recognized for his commitment to clinical excellence, innovation in endoscopic techniques, multidisciplinary collaboration, and compassionate, patient-centered care.
Dr. Fatima Shahid
License: DHA
5 years of experience
Dr. Fatima Shahid is a UK Board-Certified Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist practicing at Emirates Specialty Hospital – DHCC in Dubai. She holds an MBBS, MRCP, and CCT in Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Internal Medicine (UK). Dr. Fatima specializes in the diagnosis and management of complex gastrointestinal and liver conditions, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, coeliac disease, IBS, and primary and complex liver disorders.
Her clinical expertise covers diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy, gastrointestinal motility disorders, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, food intolerance management, and emergency endoscopic procedures. She performs a range of procedures, including gastroscopy, colonoscopy, small bowel capsule endoscopy, enteral feeding tube placement, and transnasal endoscopy. Dr. Fatima combines evidence-based treatment with lifestyle guidance and continuous monitoring to optimize patient outcomes, making her a highly sought female gastroenterologist in Dubai.
Dr Lisa Sharkey
License: DHA
21 years of experience
Dr. Lisa Sharkey is a Consultant Gastroenterologist with 18 years of NHS experience, now based in Dubai since 2023 and working as a Consultant Gastroenterologist at King’s College Hospital. She specializes in luminal gastroenterology, with particular expertise in Nutrition and Intestinal Failure, Coeliac Disease, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and has recently focused on managing gastrointestinal side effects of anti‑obesity therapies.
Dr. Sharkey is widely published, has contributed to multiple textbooks, and is a sought‑after speaker at national and international conferences. She currently serves as Director of Education at King’s College Hospital Dubai and Director of the King’s Integrated Intestinal Rehabilitation Centre, the first centre of its kind in Dubai, reflecting her leadership in advanced gastrointestinal care and education.
